VoiceOFF MK2 User Manual

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VoiceOFF MK2 - Programmable Audio Alarm Code: VOX200 MK2

VoiceOFF – Playback pre-recorded messages (or sounds)

to either welcome, warn or inform

With a powerful built in 10W amp & speaker, and IP65 case you can use it in a lot of different applications.

It can be triggered by using hard-wired alarm inputs or even via RS232 commands from other electronic equipment such as a
computer or Digital Recorder (DVR)

The VoiceOff is a new and innovative product. You can use it to playback a wide variety of sound files,
these range from messages welcoming guests or even warning off intruders. You can even have
informative messages such as telling visitors to a building site to “please wear a hard hat at all times” ­complying with health & safety is big thing this days and the voice off makes it even easier to comply!
(note – useful pre-recorded messages are available to download at the voiceOff website for a small fee).
Alternatively you can store and play music using the VoiceOff as a digital media player for indoor or
outdoor use. All the sound files are stored in the VoiceOff on a removable SD card so it’s really easy to
do quality recordings away from site in a suitable recording location.

Some people even use the VoiceOff to playback sound effects such as
a dog barking or very faint police car in the distance to scare off
unwelcome visitors who have entered restricted areas they shouldn't
have.

It's really 2 products in 1 because of its 2 distinct features.

Feature 1 is its ability to playback pre-recorded MP3 sound files through its built in amplifier and speaker. These sound files
can be recorded and customised by the end-user for maximum flexibility.

Email: [e-mail] More voice and sound files available to download at: www.voiceoff.com

Last Revised: 16/02/2012

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VoiceOFF MK2 - Programmable Audio Alarm Code: VOX200 MK2

Feature 2 is the audio amplifier. The VoiceOff can be used as an
internal or external loudspeaker, to allow the operator to convey a
message to visitors or even crowds in proximity to the VoiceOff
speaker. In the security industry, the VoiceOff can be connected
to the audio output of a Digital Video Recorder (more commonly
known as a DVR) so that suitable DVRs with 2-way audio can
have their audio output broadcast in different locations.

This feature can be used for security purposes to warn off an
intruder for business and property management purposes by using
it to communicate with a visitor. Councils use them for example
to tell someone to pick up litter they have dropped or to warn
them they are illegally parked.

For the majority of businesses that are not manned 24/7, using this
talk back feature gives the owner/manager an extra pair of eyes
and voice even when they are not there. If an intruder breaks into
the property or its perimeter during the night, they can be alerted
by an alarm input such as a break beam detector and then “warn
off” the intruder.

Feature 1 - How the VoiceOff can be used to playback pre-recorded audio files

The VoiceOff can store and play up to 20 audio files via its hard wired alarm inputs or 9999 audio files
if you use RS232 commands from another device like the Alien DVR.

To playback an audio file, the VoiceOff is triggered by connecting one of its alarm inputs to a ground. It
really is that easy to use the VoiceOff!

For example, to trigger audio file 0001.mp3, alarm input number 1 is simply connected to a ground
(select from one of the grounds marked as A, B or C) similarly to play audio file 0002.mp3, alarm input
2 is connected to a ground and so on.

Each audio file is stored in the industry standard MP3 format. The VoiceOff is really easy to use and
because the sound files are stored on removable media, it does not have the limitations of other products
where files are stored on built in flash memory. This means that you can record, edit and store sound files at
your own convenience.

The MP3 audio file can be any audio file you wish to play. It could be a voice recording of a welcome greeting or warning
message. It could even be a dog barking or a police car in the distance!

You could, for example, have a message to welcome guests such as “Welcome to our garden centre”. This may be triggered
using a PIR detector that starts the message when someone walks in through the entrance.

Or you could use the VoiceOff to warn people away. This message may say for example, “You have been detected on CCTV.
Please leave the area!” Whatever you put your imagination too, the VoiceOff has an application - even now you are using the
VoiceOff for another use - to playback information.

Visitors to an unmanned reception area could press a doorbell and the VoiceOff could give them information on what to do
next - like “Please help yourself to a free coffee from the vending machine and someone will be with you shortly!” The
VoiceOff is remarkably flexible.

Email: [e-mail] More voice and sound files available to download at: www.voiceoff.com

Last Revised: 16/02/2012

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VoiceOFF MK2 - Programmable Audio Alarm Code: VOX200 MK2

You can also store music on the VoiceOff so that when someone enters a shop, or display area it will playback pleasing music.
It could also playback what special offers are available. For example, in a DIY store it might playback today’s special offers in
the plumbing department!!

We heard of one customer who was using the VoiceOff in toilets and hospitals to inform people and staff who enter to “Now
please wash your hands!”

Feature 2 - Using the audio amplifier and loudspeaker

The built in audio input, amplifier and speaker makes the VoiceOff a very useful live loudspeaker. It has an industry standard
RCA, phono style connector for an audio input. Whenever audio is input, the VoiceOff plays that incoming audio. This could
be from a DVR which is a “Digital Video Recorder” used for CCTV. Some DVRs have remote monitoring software bundled
with them, that allows a person who is located remotely to
the DVR, to talk into a microphone connected to their
computer and the speech they say comes out of the DVR’s
audio output connector.

If the DVR’s audio output is then linked to the VoiceOff, it
will amplify this sound and play it back through its built in
weatherproof speaker. Councils have been known to use this
feature for example, to remotely tell someone to pick up
litter they have dropped after being spotted on CCTV.

The VoiceOff has intelligence built in to it as well. For
example, if it is playing back a sound file from the built in
SD card, lets say its an in-store promotional audio file and
the shop wants to play a live loudspeaker message through
the VoiceOff, such as announcing the store closes in 5
minutes, the MP3 file is stopped as soon as the VoiceOff realises that audio is present at the phono input.

Similarly, in a security application, the VoiceOff would start to play a pre-recorded warning message whenever it is triggered
by a PIR detector that detects an intruder. If the person using CCTV to remotely monitor this site, wanted to talk back to the
area, the VoiceOff switches off the warning MP3 file and plays the operator’s live message as soon as it detects audio coming
from the DVR.

Recording your own files

It’s quite easy to record your own audio for the VoiceOff unit. You just need an audio recording device and a computer.

The VoiceOff only plays back audio files that are stored in the industry standard MP3 format, so you need to either record your
messages or sound in this format or convert them to it.

Once you have recorded your messages or sounds you need to copy them to an SD card that is then inserted into the VoiceOff
unit. The audio files need to be stored on the SD card in a certain way and the files need to be saved with names that allow the
VoiceOff unit to know which MP3 file to play depending on which alarm input is triggered.

Inside the lid of the VoiceOff unit you will find a simple diagram, which is displayed in the wiring schematic below. This will
help you to see what needs to be done.

Please note when you buy your VoiceOff unit, it already comes with a pre-recorded SD card formatted and ready to go.

We recommend when you are playing about with new sound files you use an SD card other than the free one provided with the
VoiceOff, so you always have a fallback solution.

Email: [e-mail] More voice and sound files available to download at: www.voiceoff.com

Last Revised: 16/02/2012

Warn off intruders as soon as they are detected by
using the VoiceOFF talkback amp with an
alienDVR.

Connect the VoiceOFF to the alienDVR in the
surveillance area. The CCTV operator can then talk
back to a visitor on detection.